MLB Releases Special Hats to Commemorate Hall of Fame Weekend

The Baseball Hall of Fame will induct its Class of 2024 this weekend in Cooperstown, New York. To commemorate the occasion, all 30 Major League Baseball teams will wear a special patch on the side of their hats.

Although the idea of a limited edition commemorative hat usually elicits a collective groan, MLB and the Hall of Fame decided to keep it simple with this design — and in the process created a hat that fans might actually consider adding to their collection.

The hats simply feature a patch of the Hall of Fame logo on the right side of each cap in a way that doesn’t interfere with the team’s logo on the front, or change the team’s familiar color scheme.

Major League Baseball and the Hall of Fame are separate business entities. Cross-promotions between the two like these are not automatic, unlike some institutions that have nothing to do with the game of baseball (Mother’s Day hats, anyone?).

The Hall of Fame Class of 2024 is a group worth calling attention to.

Adrian Beltré, Todd Helton, Jim Leyland, and Joe Mauer will be formally inducted Sunday at 1:30 p.m. ET on the grounds of the Clark Sports Center, one mile south of the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

Leyland was elected by the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee for Managers, Executives, and Umpires in December. The former Pittsburgh Pirates, Florida Marlins, Colorado Rockies, and Detroit Tigers manager amassed 1,769 wins over 22 years, winning three pennants and a World Series in 1997 with Florida.

Beltré, a four-time All-Star, played 21 seasons with the Dodgers, Mariners, Red Sox, and Rangers, earning five Gold Gloves and four Silver Slugger awards. He ranks second all-time with 2,759 games at third base, and he’s the only third baseman with more than 3,000 hits (3,166) and 450 homers (477). Beltré hit .300 or better seven times, reached 20 homers 12 times, and had five 100-RBI seasons. His 93.5 Wins Above Replacement are third all-time among third basemen.

Helton, a five-time All-Star, played all of his 17 major league seasons with the Rockies. One of only 21 players with 1,000 games, a .300 average, .400 OBP, and .500 slugging percentage, he also won three Gold Gloves and four Silver Sluggers. From 1998 to 2005, he averaged a 1.045 OPS and won the 2000 NL batting title. Helton’s career OPS is .953, ranking 23rd all-time, including an .855 OPS on the road.

Joe Mauer played 15 seasons with the Twins, becoming the only catcher to win three batting titles (2006, 2008, and 2009). He hit .365 with a 1.031 OPS during his MVP season of 2009, becoming the only catcher to lead the league in OPS. A six-time All-Star, Mauer won five Silver Sluggers and three Gold Gloves. The 2001 No. 1 overall pick is the only catcher with 2,000 hits, a .300 average, and a .380 OBP.